And in all his future speeches he continually urged them to obedience, At the same time he received all their resolutious, representations and addresses against the measure, and forwarded those they wished to the home government, and when it was proper, wrote . to the ministry pressing upon them to agree to the views and wishes of the Province. But he would not assent to the annual bills they passed and sent to him, in consequence of which he received no salary as Commander-in-chief till 1756, in the spring of which year the ministry gave up the point and agreed to annual support bills for the future, and directed Sir Charles Hardy, the then Governor, to communicate the change of the

1 Assembly Journals; T., 728, 732. 2 Assembly Journals; IT., 351. 3 See as before Assembly Journals; II., 351.

HON, JAMES DE LANCEY. 1051

instruction to the Assembly, which he did on the 24h of the following September.'| This was a great triumph for the colony, and for which it was indebted solely to the policy of Lt. Governor De Lancey, and the tact and statesmanship he shewed in carrying it out. A fact so manifest as to compel the reluctant praise of the partial author of the History of New York.?

On the 19 of June, 1754, Lieut. Governor De Lancey convened and opened the celebrated Congress of Albany, over which he presided: This was a Congress of delegates from all the colonies? which the home government directed the Lt. Governor of New York to hold, for the purpose of conciliating the Indian nations who were invited to attend it; of renewing the covenant chain and attaching them more closely to the British interest, and for comprising all the provinces in one general treaty to be made with them in the King's name, and fer no other purpose.' Speeches and presents were made to the Indians who promised to do all that was asked of them, but no formal treaty whatever was concluded.